At Santa Rosa Fine Wine, we often host nice wine tastings with customers. Other times, we attend formal trade tastings and try the latest offerings by local and international producers. In the case of a recent Sine Qua Non Dinner, it was all about getting together with local Napa Valley friends to drink some very nice wine, enjoy good food and amazing company!The theme was Sine Qua Non wines with grilled steaks from Bryan's Fine Foods. For those not familar with Bryan's, they sell some of the best steak in the country, and are located relatively close to the California wine country in Corte Madera. We had premium dry aged New York Strip steaks grilled to perfection! Between 8 of us, there was plenty of wine and steak to go around. With friends, the evening was informal and no tasting notes were taken at the time, however, do have some personal recollections pulled from memory the next day!
2006 Sine Qua Non Autrement Dit Rose – Not a typical Rose, bordering on a light red wine. Was fresh, lot of bright fruits, a good summer wine.
1998 Sine Qua Non Veiled Pinot – This was a great drinking complex Pinot. Had good minerality, earthiness, soft well integrated fruit and mature.
2005 Sine Qua Non Over and Out Pinot – Pretty young, like a barrel sample that has not fully resolved. Suggest aging this one a few years.
2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Grenache – Excellent wine that was candied and full bodied. Lot of bright fruits, raspberry, cherry, and strawberry.
2006 Sine Qua Non Raven Grenache – Similar to the 2005 Grenache in the way of fruit, though overall lighter in style. Drinking pretty young.
1997 Sine Qua Non Imposter McCoy Syrah – Little unappealing prune on the nose, blew off quickly. A bit of mint, menthol, and plum on the palate.
2003 Sine Qua Non Papa Syrah – My WOTN. Not a fruit bomb like a JFTLOI, but well resolved, complex, earthy, mineral and fruit driven Syrah.
2004 Sine Qua Non Ode to E Syrah – Second favorite wine of the night. This one was very big, had a full mouth feel. Slightly reminiscent of JFTLOI.
2006 Sine Qua Non Raven Syrah – Recall this being a more toned down, tannic style of Syrah. Did not show as well as others. Perhaps in time?
There were several “mystery” wines poured which included: 1995 Kistler Durrell Chardonnay, 2003 Saxum James Berry Bone Rock Syrah, 2003 Kongsgaard Hudson Syrah, 2005 Lillian Syrah, 1997 Togni Cabernet, 1982 Chalone Pinot, Pride Sangiovese, Ramey Syrah, Road 128 and Oro Puro!While the majority of the mystery wines were enjoyable, the standout was the 2005 Lillian. It was an amazing wine and held its own against the Sine Qua Non. In fact, it was quite similar to the Papa (well integrated tannin, good balance, minerals, earthiness, yet plenty of dark fruit). A surprising wine was the 1995 Kistler Durrell Chardonnay which on the surface, might appear well past its prime, but in fact, was drinking quite nicely!
Cheers to good friends and good wine!
Nick Wittman
Santa Rosa Fine Wine
http://www.santarosafinewine.com/
